as in cheeks
the part of the body upon which someone sits
I decided to get off my bum and get some exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in beggars
an idle worthless person
if you expect an allowance, you have to do some chores and stop being such a bum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hoboes
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living
I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in lounges
to spend time doing nothing
spent most of the summer just bumming around the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bums
David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
With both travel and programming budgets under pressure, all markets have to make a strong case to get buyer and seller bums on seats (or, more accurately, into screening booths and meeting rooms).
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Ndiaye aside, Everton have long lacked bums-off-seats kinds of players.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Available in a wide range of playful patterns, from garden vegetables and beach bums to this swimmer style, the colorful shoulder bag has landed a cult following for its ability to add some fun to any look without taking itself too seriously.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
The level of luxury she’s introduced with Barracuda is a stark contrast to the humbler quarters generally associated with backpackers and itinerant surf bums, which still make up the majority of Itacaré’s lodging options.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
With both travel and programming budgets under pressure, all markets have to make a strong case to get buyer and seller bums on seats (or, more accurately, into screening booths and meeting rooms).
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Ndiaye aside, Everton have long lacked bums-off-seats kinds of players.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Available in a wide range of playful patterns, from garden vegetables and beach bums to this swimmer style, the colorful shoulder bag has landed a cult following for its ability to add some fun to any look without taking itself too seriously.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bums
Verb
-
Winds chills in the mountains could hit 0 to minus 10 degrees, the NWS says.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Dec. 2025
-
When that happens, Arctic air chills temperatures in other regions.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Warm days are made for outdoor lunches and park strolls through El Retiro or Casa de Campo, while evenings stretch into tapas crawls and impromptu street performances in La Latina.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Dec. 2025
-
From pit lane strolls to VIP rooftop views, stars showed up and showed out at one of the biggest sports weekends of the year.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The belief that the Maduro episode could be replicated in Iran also rests on a misleading comparison.—
Sanam Vakil,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the post-raid landscape, that assumption rests on dangerously fragile ground.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As Cuenca plays a ball to the feet of his striker, Wilson dashes in the other direction, delaying Ibrahima Konate’s forward jump because the centre-back knows Bradley is unable to track both him and Robinson at the same time.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In the dark romantic comedy-drama, True Blood alum Skarsgård, 49, plays tough biker Ray, who enters into a dominant-submissive relationship with Colin (Melling), a shy and directionless man who sings in a barbershop quartet.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After a very chilly start to the day, with many spots in North Texas dipping into the 20s during the morning, our southerly flow kicks back in, which will lead to a steady warming trend over the next several days.—
McKenna King,
CBS News,
15 Dec. 2025
-
Additionally, Zendaya's Rue Bennett sits in church pews, Schafer's Jules Vaughn kicks back in an art studio and Apatow's Lexi Howard appears to be in the same location as Demie's Perez.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Somebody does something terrible and messes it up.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bums. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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